KAYAKING AND TREKKING

Itinerary

Upon arrival in Hanoi, the group will gather and stop for a visit at the ethnology center on the way to our hotel. After checking in, there will be a cyclo-rickshaw tour of the old quarter. A welcome dinner and splendid water-puppet theater show will wrap up the evening.
Overnight at Sunway Hotel (Superior room) in Hanoi (D)

In the early morning, we will drive to Ha Long Bay. We will embark from Ha Long pier and arrive at Hang Toi Island in time for an afternoon exploration of the bay by kayak. A fresh seafood dinner and optional night paddle will end our day.
Overnight on board. (B, L, D)

This morning we will depart for the second island where we will kayak through caves, one with three separate sections. After lunch, we will continue our kayak exploration of more caves and grottoes. There will be an opportunity to paddle in the night.
Overnight on board. (B, L, D)

We will rise at sunrise for breakfast, and continue island exploration including caves and grottoes. We will arrive at a fish farm island and paddle through sea tunnels and along the coast. We will dine and sleep on the escort boat or on the beach near Tito Beach. There is an opportunity to paddle in the night again.
Overnight onboard. (B, L, D)

We will depart for the Northern Coast of Cat Ba Island, enjoying breakfast on the way. More caves and grottoes entice us into more exploration of North Cat Ba, departing for Ha Long City afterwards. We return to Hanoi in the afternoon and board the night train to Lao Cai.
Overnight on Tulinco/Ratraco train (B, L, D)

Arrive in Lao Caiearly morning, meet and transfer to Sapa. Transfer to hotel to freshen up and take breakfast. After breakfast, meet with our trekking guides for a briefing on the trek. We drive from Sapa to Su Pan by jeep – approx 25 km, and then we descend from the end of the dirt road at Su Pan to the Tayvillage of Ban Ho. After enjoying a swim in the nearby river we continue towards another Tay village, Thanh Phu. Here we have lunch in a local house. After lunch, we have about 2 hours walk before we reach the Red Dao people in Sin Chai village. We have dinner and overnight in Sin Chai village.
Overnight homestay. Approx. 5 hours walk. (B, L, D)

First we have 2 hours to descend down to the village of Nam Sai (Tay tribe). From there we cross the river and walk up to one the four Xa Pho villages (Xa Pho tribe). There we will have the chance to visit the local school, while our cook is preparing lunch. We continue along the mountainside through 2 other Xa Phovillages before we reach the Xa Pho village of Nam Keng, where we stay overnight in a local house.
Overnight homestay. Approx. 5 hours walk. (B, L, D)

From Nam Keng we pass several suspended bridges before we reach the Tay village of Ban Ho where we may take a swim in a beautiful river, while our cook is preparing lunch. We enjoy our lunch at the riverside before going up to Su Pan and back to Sapa by jeep. A shuttle bus will later bring us to Lao Cai station and we will board the night train back to Hanoi. We will dine and spend the night on the train, passing through the countryside as we sleep.
Overnight on Tulinco/Ratraco train. Approx 4 hours walk (B, L, D)